Operation Sindoor: Masood Azhar’s Brother Killed in Indian Airstrikes on Terror Camps

In a major breakthrough under Operation Sindoor, the Indian Armed Forces have escalated their offensive, targeting terrorist infrastructure deep within Pakistan. One of the most significant outcomes of this high-impact operation was the elimination of Abdul Rauf Azhar, the brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, and a key conspirator behind the 1999 Kandahar plane hijacking.

Strikes on Terrorist Camps in Bahawalpur

According to official sources, Indian drones struck the Markaz Subhan Complex in Bahawalpur, a known stronghold of JeM. The precision strikes resulted in the death of 14 individuals, including family members and top operatives closely associated with Masood Azhar. Among the deceased were Masood’s sister, her husband, a nephew, and his wife. Intelligence reports confirm that Abdul Rauf Azhar was also killed in the attack.

This marks one of India’s most decisive strikes in recent years against high-value terror targets across the border.

Who Was Abdul Rauf Azhar?

Abdul Rauf Azhar played a critical role in the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814. The plane, originating from Nepal, was diverted to Kandahar by five Pakistani terrorists. The hijackers demanded the release of three imprisoned terrorists—Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar. Under extreme pressure and with passengers’ lives at stake, India eventually agreed to release the trio. This event later enabled Masood Azhar to form Jaish-e-Mohammed, one of the most dangerous terrorist outfits operating in South Asia.

Rauf Azhar continued to be a central figure in the group’s leadership and operations. He was actively involved in organizing and supporting major terrorist attacks, including the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, the 2016 Pathankot airbase assault, and the 2019 Pulwama bombing that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel.

Operation Sindoor: A Strategic Advance

The latest phase of Operation Sindoor has dealt a heavy blow to Pakistan’s terror ecosystem. Alongside the targeted killing of top militants, the Indian Army also destroyed key components of Pakistan’s air defense systems in cities like Lahore and Rawalpindi, using precision drone strikes. These attacks have reportedly neutralized the threat posed by Pakistani missiles and drones aimed at Indian territory.

A Strong Message

With this operation, India has signaled a clear shift in its counter-terrorism strategy—focusing not just on preventing infiltrations at the border but eliminating terror infrastructure at its roots. The killing of Abdul Rauf Azhar, often referred to as the "shadow mastermind" of JeM, is being hailed as a landmark success by security analysts.